Attachment for golf bags



Oct. 18, 1932. w. J. DOUGHTY ATTACHMENT FOR GOLF BAGS Filed July 13.1931 INVENTOR W /lam IDouyfi/ ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 18, 1932 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE VJILLIAM J'. DOUGHTY, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORTO ADDIE A. DOUGHTY, 01

- ,DETROIT, MICHIGAN AT-TACHMENT ron GOLF BAGS Application filed July13, 1981. Serial No. 550,590.

This invention relates generally to golf equipment and refers moreparticularly to attachments for golf club containers, commonly known inthe trade as caddy bags.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide anattachment inthe form of a standard designed tosupport golf bags in aposition to permit the clubs therein to be conveniently manipulated andin such a manner that the player or other person attending the bag isnot obliged to stoop to pick up the bag when it is desired to transportthe same from one point to another.

Another object of this invention consists in the provision of anattachment of the type specified having legs movable from a compactposition adjacent one side of the bag to a position wherein theycooperate with the bag to form a tripod for supportingthe bag in theposition hereinbefore set forth.

Another advantageous feature of this invention resides in the meansprovided herein for moving the legs of the attachment to their operativeand inoperative positions with respect to the bag. The aforesaid meansis so designed as to function automatically upon resting the bottom ofthe bag on the ground to move the legs of the stand outwardly from thebag and upon lifting the latter, to automatically return the legs totheir inoperative position adjacent one side of the bag.

A further advantageous feature of this 1nvention consists in theprovision of actuating means of the above type operable to efi'ec--apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fi re 1 is a side elevational view of a golf 7 ag equipped with myimproved attachment and showing the latter inoperative relation to thebag;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the attachment showing the samein inoperative position;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view similar to Figure 1with certain parts broken away;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 44: ofFigure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken'substantially on the line 55 ofFigure 1 showing the legs in their inoperative positions.

As previously stated, the attachment illus-' trated herein findsparticular utilit when used in connection with caddy bags or supportingthe latter in a. convenient position to permit ready manipulation of thegolf clubs within the bag and at the same time provide for lifting thebag with the minimum amount of effort or stooping on the part of theplayer or attendant of the bag. Accordingl I have shown in Figure 1 acaddy bag 10 of conventional design having a bottom portion 11preferably constructed of rigid material and having a collar 12encircling the top thereof and also formed of a relatively rigidmaterial. The bottom portion 11 and collar 12 preferably form thesupports to which my improved attachment, designated generally herein bythe reference character 13, is either permanently or removably secured.As illustrated herein, the attachment is removably secured to the bag soas topermit the same to be manufactured and sold independently of thebagif desired.

In detail, the attachment 13 comprises a tubular plunger 14 mounted forreciprocation longitudinally of the bag and having the lower end thereofslidably mounted within'a suitable bracket 15 rigidly secured to thebase portion 11 of the bag by means of vthe fastener elements 16. Theupper end portion of the plunger 14 is adapted to telescopically engagewithin the adjacent end of a tubular casing 17 having the upper endthereof'adapt- Jill ed to be secured to the collar 12 of the bag bymeans of suitable fastening elements 18 engaging a bracket 19 which inturn is secured to the casing. The fastener elements 16 and 18 serve asthe only means for securing the attachment to the bag and are preferablyof the readily detachable type so as to provide for readily assemblingthe attachment to the bag or removing the same from the bag. e

The casing 17 is formed with a pair of cam tracks 20 and 21 in oppositeside walls thereof adjacent the lower end of the same. The spaced camtracks 20 and 21 are preferably in registration with each otherand arein the form of slots having relatively straight portions 22 extending inthe direction of the path of movement of the plunger 14 and havinginwardly curved portions 23 forming a continnation of the portions 22.Arranged upon opposite sides of the cam slots in the casing 17 are thetripod legs 24 and 25 having the upper ends thereof pivotally connectedto the plunger by means of fastener elements 26 extending through thecam slots 20 and 21 as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

In order to accurately control movement of the legs relative to the bag,each of the legs are provided with rollers 30 beyond the fastenerelement 26. The rollers 30 are journaled upon the inner sides of each ofthe legs by means of the pins 31 secured to the upper ends of the legsand are adapted to engage within the cam slots 20 and 21 foranti-frictionally engaging the side walls thereof. The arrangement issuch that when the legs 24 and 25 are in their inoperative positionsadjacent the bag, both the rollers 30 and fastener elements'26 assumepositions within the relatively straight portions 22 of the cam slotswith the result that the legs are in effect loci-red in theirinoperative positions. In thisconnection, it is to be noted that inwardmovement of the legs to their inoperative positions is restricted bymeans of a suitable bracket 32 having a body portion secured to theplunger and having semi-circular leg portions 33 onopposite sides of thebody portion and plunger for receiving the legs.

With the construction as thus far described, it will be apparent thatmovement of the plunger 14 upwardly effectsa corresponding movement ofthe upper ends of the legs 24 and 25 owing to the connection thereofwith the plunger, and, in addition; causes the rollers 30 beyondtheefastenerelements 26 to follow the pathdefined by the inwardlyextending portions 23 of the cam slots 20 and 21; Movementofthe rollers30 within the aforesaid portions of the cam slots effects a pivotalmovement of'the legs 24 and 25 relative to the plunger 14'about thefastener elements 26 to the position illustrated in Figure 1 which,incidentally, is determined by the particular design of cam slot. Aswill be apparent when the legs are in their outer positions as shown inthe aforesaid figure, they cooperate with the plun er to form in effecta tripod to support the bag.

As previously stated, it is one of the objects of the invent-ion toaccomplish both outward and inward movement of the legs automaticallyand for accomplishing the foregoing, I provide a suitable coil spring 34arranged within the casing 17 in such a manner that the upper endthereof engages the corresponding end of the casing and the low- -er endof the same engages the upper end of the plunger. The coil spring tendsto move the ilunger 14 in a downward direction and in so doing, effectsa movement of the legs 24 and 25 to their inoperative positions as willbe presently set forth. Downward movement of the plunger 14 by the coilspring is restricted by means of the engagement of the fastener elements26 with the lower end walls 35 of the cam slots in the casing 17. Inthis connection,it is to be noted that the length of the plunger 14 andslots is so determined that when the fastener elements 26 are inengagement with the end walls 35 thereof, the lower end of the plungerprojects below the bottom surface of the bag a distance corresponding tothe upward movement of the plunger necessary for moving the tripod legsto their outermost positions with respect to the bag. In other Words,the lower end of the plunger 14 normally extends below the bottom of thebag so that upon resting the bottom of thebag upona support, the lowerend of the plunger is engaged by the upport and caused to move upwardlyagainst the action of the spring to effect outward movement of thetripod legs in the manner hereinbefore set forth. .The tension of thespring 34 is accurately determined so that the combined weight of thebag and clubs carried thereby will be substantially sufficient to movethe plunger 14 upwardly to compress the spring 34 so as to require theminimum amount of additional effort on the part of the player or otherperson attending the bag.

The spring 34, however, is of sufficient strength to automatically movethe plunger 14 downwardly for effecting inward move ment of the legs 24and 25 upon picking up the bag. It is obvious that movement of theplunger downwardly effects a corresponding movement of the trinod legsthrough the fasteners 26 and accordingly causes the rollers 30 to moveout of the portions 23 of the cam slots intothe portions 22 thereof.Movement of the rollers as specified effects an inward movement of thelegs 24 and 25 to a position upon opposite sides of the plunger adjacentthe bag. From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that since boththe fasteners 26 and rollers 30 are in the relatively straight portionsof the cam slots when the legs are in a position adjacent the bag,movement of the legs. outwardly to their supporting position by theirown weight or by a force exerted directly thereon will be prevented bythe inner walls of the portions 22 of the slots.

In order to reduce the Weight and cost of manufacture of the attachment,as Well as minimize the number of parts involved, the plunger 14, aswell as the tripod legs 24 and 25, is formed of relatively light gagesteel tubing and the casing 17 is preferably formed by stamping the samefrom sheet metal. The upper ends of the tubular legs 24 and 25 arepreferably flattened and return-bent as will be observed from Figure 4to provide an efficient bearing surface with the opposite side walls ofthe casing. The lower ends of the tubes are also flattened and taperedas at 40 so as to intimately engage the support. If desired, suitablebumpers 41 formed of rubber or other resilient non-metallic material maybe secured to the legs in a position to engage the positioning member 32secured to the plunger. The lower end of the plunger may be providedwith a suitable cap 42 formed of rubber or other suitable material toabsorb shocks and at the same time prevent slipping of the bag whensupported by the legs 24 and 25.

Thus, from the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a.relatively simple and compact attachment for caddy bags which may bereadily assembled upon or removed from the bag and which does notappreciably add to the weight of the bag.

hat I claim as my invention is:

1. An attachment for golf bags comprising telescopically engaging parts,one of the parts adapted to be fixed to a bag and the other part mountedfor movement longitudinally of the bag, a pair of legs pivotally,

connected adjacent the upper ends thereof to one of said parts, and cammeans associated with the other of said parts and operable upon relativemovement of the parts for simultaneously swinging said legs from aposition adjacent the bag to a position wherein they cooperate with theplunger to form a tripod for supporting the bag.

2. An attachment for golf bags comprising telescopically engaging parts,one of the parts adapted to be fixed to a bag and the other part mountedfor movement longitudinally of the bag, a pair of legs pivotallyconnected to the last-mentioned partand movable from aposition adjacentthe bag to a position spaced therefrom wherein they cooperate with theplunger to form a tripod for supporting the bag, and cam meansassociated with the fixed part aforesaid open able to automatically lockthe legs in a posi tion adjacent the bag and operable upon axialdisplacement of the movable part to simultaneously move both legs totheir operative positions wherein they cooperate to support the bag.

i 3. An attachment for golf bags comprising telescopically engagingparts, one of said parts adapted to be fixed to a bag and the other ofsaid parts mounted for reciprocation longitudinally of the bag, a pairof legs arranged upon opposite sides of the telescopically engagingparts and pivotally connected adjacent the upper ends thereof to one ofthe latter parts, cam slots formed in the other of said parts, and meansupon said legs beyond the pivotal connection thereof to the partaforesaid and engageablewithin said cam slots for swinging the legsrelative to the bag upon relative movement of said parts.

4. An attachment for golf bags comprisinga plunger mounted upon a bagfor reciprocation. longitudinally thereof, guide means for the plungerfixed to the bag and having cam surfaces provided with relativelystraight portions extending in the direction of reciprocation of theplunger and with inwardly curved portions extending at an angle to thestraight portions aforesaid, a pair of legs disposed upon opposite sidesof the guide-means and movable from an inoperative position adjacent thebag to a position wherein they cooperate with the bag to 3 support thesame, pivots connecting the upper end portions of the legs to theplunger and engaging the cam surfaces, and means upon said legs beyondthe pivotal connections thereof to the plunger also engaging said camsurfaces, said last-mentioned means arranged to assume a position on thestraight portions aforesaid of the cam surfaces when the legs are intheir inoperative position and function upon movement of the aforesaidpivots by displacement of the plunger in one direction to engage the.inwardly curved portions of said cam surfaces and thereby swing the legsabout the said pivots.

5. An attachment for golf bags comprising a'plunger mounted upon a bag.for reciprocation longitudinally thereof, guide means forthe plungerfixed to the bag and having registering cam slots provided withcorresponding relatively straight portions extending in the direction ofreciprocation of the plunger and with corresponding inwardly. curvedportions, a pair of legs positioned upon opposite sides of the guidemeans and movable from an inoperative position adjacent the bag to anoperative position spaced from the latter for supporting the same, meansfor pivotally connecting the upper end portions of the legs to theplunger including upon the upper ends of the legs beyond the pivotalconnections of the latter to the plunger and normally engageable withinthe relatively straight portions of the cam slots to cooperate with thepivot pins for locking the legs in their inoperative position, saidmeans operable upon movement of the plunger in a direction toward thepivot pins to move into the curved portions of the cam slots and therebyeffect a swinging movement or" the legs outwardly from the bag about thesaid pivot pins.

6. An attachment for golf bags comprising telescopically engaging parts,one of the parts adapted to be fixed to the bag and the other partmounted for reciprocation longitudinally of the bag, a pair of legsdisposed upon opposite sides of the telescopically engaging parts andmovable from an inoperative position adjacent the bag to an operativeposition for supporting the bag, cam

slots formed in said fixed part and having corresponding relativelystraight portions extending in the direction of relative movement of theparts and further having corresponding inwardly curved portionscommunicating with the straight portions, pins pivotally connecting thelegs to the movable part and extending through the cam slots, means uponthe upper ends of the legs movable from a position within the relativelystraight porl tions of the slots when the legs are in their inoperativeposition to a position within the curved portions of the slots foreffecting swinging movement of the legs to their oper-o ative positionsabout the pins, and means for automatically returning said legs to theirinoperative positions.

7 An attachment for golf bags comprising telescopically engaging tubularparts formed of relatively light gage metal, a pair of relatively lightgage tubular legs having flattened end portions arranged upon oppositesides of the telescopically engaging parts and pivotally connected toone of the latter,

and cam means associated with the other part and operable upon relativemovement of said parts for automatically swinging said legs outwardlyfrom the bag about the pivotal connection thereof, and means forresisting outward movement of the legs and for auto- 3 maticallyreturning the latter to their inoperative positions.

8. An attachment for golf bags comprising telescopically engaging parts,one of said parts adapted to be fixed to the bag and the other of saidparts mounted for movement longitudinally of the bag, a pair of legspivotally connected to one of said parts and movable from a positionadjacent the bag to a position wherein they cooperate with the bag tosupport the latter, and means for simultaneously moving said legs totheir supporting aositions upon relative movement of the parts, saidmeans including cam engaging portions at the upper ends of the legs andture.

WILLIAM J. DOUGHTY.

